Not Your Everyday Zombie Flick

Rating: Null/10 (13 October 2011)

28 Days Later is not your stereotypical zombie film. Technically speaking, it is not even a zombie movie. The zombies are not undead, but infected with a virus known as Rage. The symptoms are simple and self explanatory; infected have uncontrollable rage towards anyone who is not infected and will do anything to kill of infect them. The infected are like zombies in that they have little reasoning skills and disregard self preservation. Despite the technicalities, the concept is the same; a small group of survivors attempts to evade and survive the mass hordes.
The plot to the story is very similar to others of the same genre. However, the focus is quite different. The main focus is on the interaction of the people with each other rather than how the fight of the zombies. One interesting element of the film involves the characters' own personal values in a post apocalyptic world. Different values clash as some characters do anything to survive and others choose to help those in need. The plot is very character driven and causes a strong bond between the viewer and the characters. This allows fans to become truly invested in the movie.
The mood of the movie is also different from conventional methods. The actual zombie scenes are very limited. This makes the scenes much more dramatic. The drama builds up with every scene. It adds to the suspense since you do not see the infected as much as in other zombie movies.
Overall, 28 Days Later is a very well made movie. It is able to stay true to the standard zombie genre while adding its own twist in order to add depth the characters, plot, and overall suspense. However, if your type of zombie movie involves nonstop action, blood, killing, and horror, then this movie is not for you. If you prefer a movie with an in depth plot, suspense, and that challenges you as a thinker, this movie is just for you.